NHL Blog Beat – March 19, 2012.

Don Cherry living on short time at the CBC?…The recent peaks and valleys of the Avalanche…Some reasons to keep watching the Ducks…The mistake that never should’ve been made by the Canadiens…Steve Mason’s goalie gear issues…A microscopic look at the Sharks…A profile of Eddie Shore…The toughest players of all time…Absurd Goalie Monday…A look behind the scenes of ‘Leafs Beefs’…

BACKHAND SHELF: Chris Lund examined the possibility Don Cherry’s time on Hockey Night in Canada might be short. Even if the NHL decides not to renew its contract with HNiC, I could see TSN or Sportsnet trying to woo Cherry and sidekick Ron MacLean. Love Cherry or hate him, he’s still a big draw.

MILE HIGH HOCKEY: A look at how each player on the Avalanche are doing as they head into the final two weeks (and change) of the regular season.

ANAHEIM CALLING: Teemu Selanne hitting 1,409 career points, Jonas Hiller reaching 70 games and Bobby Ryan scoring his 30th goal are just three of the reasons the Ducks are still worth watching as their playoff hopes fade.

Habs never should've let Koivu go.

HABS EYES ON THE PRIZE: Andrew Birkshire considers the decision by Canadiens management not to re-sign Saku Koivu the mistake that never should’ve been made. OK, it’s not up there with tossing in John LeClair in the deal for Mark Recchi, or trading away Patrick Roy, but it’s certainly a bad one, considering Koivu’s replacement, Scott Gomez, has less points than Koivu since the latter signed up with the Ducks three years ago.

THE GOALIE GUILD: Some thoughts on Steve Mason’s equipment change and whether or not it really is responsible for the recent improvement in his game.

BACKHAND SHELF: Ellen Etchingham examines the life and career of Boston Bruins legend Eddie Shore, suggesting Shore’s idiosyncrasies, especially later in life, may have been attributable to CTE from numerous blows to the head suffered during his playing career.

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